Multisensory perceptual decision-making resolved in time

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Bürgers, Steffen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0728-358X (2019). Multisensory perceptual decision-making resolved in time. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Perceptual decision-making, inferring the “right” course of action from sensory information, is a vital process for any living organism. To get reliable perceptual estimates it is useful to integrate information from multiple modalities (e.g. vision and audition), provided they originate from the same source. In this thesis we scrutinized multisensory perceptual decisionmaking in time with a simple one versus two-flash segregation ask, while presenting concurrent, irrelevant beeps. When stimuli are presented close in time, disparate flash-beep pairings lead to altered flash reports (e.g. 1-flash & 2-beep stimulation elicits an illusory second flash), a phenomenon known as the sound induced flash illusion. In chapter 1 we lay theoretical foundations of multisensory integration and perceptual decision making with a focus on the sound induced flash illusion. In chapter 2 we examine the temporal determinants of the sound induced flash illusion. In chapter 3 we characterize and compare the neural representations of perceptual choice outcomes throughout the perceptual decision-making process. In chapter 4 we investigate the long-standing hypothesis that the frequency of alpha oscillations indexes visual temporal resolution. Finally, in chapter 5 we summarise the findings obtained in the empirical chapters and discuss future directions.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):